Side by side (MA, EIA-861)
| Metric | Massachusetts Electric Co | NSTAR Electric Company |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 33.60 | 29.91 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 36.72 | 29.66 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $3,629 | $3,231 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 526,437 | 383,373 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Counties served in MA | 12 | 11 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Massachusetts Electric Co · NSTAR Electric Company · Massachusetts overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Barnstable · Berkshire · Bristol · Franklin · Hampden · Hampshire · Middlesex · Norfolk · Plymouth · Suffolk counties (MA, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Massachusetts Electric Co and NSTAR Electric Company do not compete for the same meters. Massachusetts does have retail supply choice: customers of either utility may buy the supply portion from a licensed third-party supplier, or stay on the utility's default supply rate. An offer only saves money if it beats your utility's price to compare (printed on the bill); compare offers at mass.gov. The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Massachusetts Electric Co cheaper than NSTAR Electric Company?
- No — in 2024 Massachusetts Electric Co customers averaged 33.60 cents/kWh versus 29.91 for NSTAR Electric Company (EIA-861). NSTAR Electric Company was cheaper by 3.68 cents, about $398 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Massachusetts Electric Co to NSTAR Electric Company?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Massachusetts does allow supply choice: either utility's customers can shop the supply portion at mass.gov if an offer beats the utility's price to compare.
- Why is Massachusetts Electric Co more expensive than NSTAR Electric Company?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Massachusetts Electric and NSTAR Electric territory all feed the 3.68-cent gap.